Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen declared the 2017 Summer Universiade open during a spectacular ceremony welcoming more than 11,000 athletes and support staff from 142 countries and territories at Taipei Stadium Aug. 19.

An overwhelming majority of people in Taiwan support the government’s New Southbound Policy, reflecting a deep understanding in society of the initiative and its benefits, according to the results of a survey released Aug. 21 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Five flagship projects and three potential-laden fields for collaboration under the New Southbound Policy were outlined Aug. 14 by the Cabinet-level Office of Trade Negotiations, highlighting Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen mutually beneficial ties with the initiative’s target countries in South and Southeast Asia as well Australia and New Zealand.

Taiwan’s 10th place ranking in the 2017 International Digital Government report highlights the success of the country’s efforts to foster digital infrastructure development and promote e-services and open government data, according to the Cabinet-level National Development Council Aug. 9.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Aug. 7 the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan) over the South China Sea islands and said the country must be included in any talks on a dispute resolution mechanism.

The inaugural Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue kicked off Aug. 8 in Taipei City, bringing together around 30 senior officials, experts and scholars from across the region to discuss issues related to maritime capacity building and cooperation, security and regional economic integration.

A four-week training course for the 75 participants in the International Youth Ambassador Exchange Program kicked off in Taipei City, preparing the university students for upcoming tours aimed at fostering people-to-people exchanges with countries across South and Southeast Asia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Aug. 1.

Known as the Olympics of the ICT industry, the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2017) will be held on September 10-13 at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC). Furthermore, 16 parallel events and an exhibition on future technology will also take place at Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC), Exhibition Hall 1.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) and Central American ally Belize inked an agreement on bilateral cooperation July 26, underscoring the strong and steadfast diplomatic relations between the two sides, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The first Ecology, Energy Saving, Waste Reduction and Health building evaluation system certificate was issued July 28 to a firm operating outside Taiwan in recognition of its efforts to improve energy management practices and slash carbon emissions, according to the Ministry of the Interior.